Recent Technologies

Researchers at UCR have developed a process that uses optical coherence tomography (OCT) on specific regions of the cranium to detect the onset of edema before severe damage can be done to the brain. By scanning various regions of the brain with OCT, the early stages of cerebral edema may be visualized at a far earlier time point than otherwise possible. The scattering pattern of reflected light changes in a predictable manner when brain water content increases. This allows for a quick and accurate determination of a patient’s risk for developing dangerous ICP levels, thus eliminating the need for a invasive precautionary craniectomy. Fig. 1: diagram of the OCT apparatus being used to measure edema in a mouse brain Fig. 2: table demonstrating the time between OCT detection of artificially induced edema and onset of increased ICP

Researchers at the University of California, Riverside have developed a transparent, highly stretchable, self-healing, ionic conductor. The conductor is comprised of a polar polymer and an ionic salt solution. The material is held together via charge interactions between these two components, which prevents leakage of the ionic solution out of the material. This material can tolerate strains above 5000% and maintains an optical transmittance of 92%. Additionally, the material is spontaneously reversible (goes back to its original shape) for strains under 50%. When a sample of this material is cut into two pieces and connected together, the sample spontaneously self-healed under ambient conditions within 24 hours. Fig. 1 Photos of a healed material sample in the non-deformed state and stretched to five times its original length. Fig. 2 Optical microscope images of a cut material sample after different healing times at room temperature. The damaged sample fully healed after 24 hours. Scale bar is shown at 500 μm. Fig. 3 Healing efficiency (recovered fracture toughness) at different ambient temperatures

Background: The pest control industry incurs an estimated $1.7B in damages every year. Current pest management techniques result in insecticide runoff and environmental contamination, which calls for improved bait technologies. Since most urban pests of interest use pheromones for organization and coordination of their colonies, many researchers have explored the possibility of using synthetic trail pheromones as an alternative strategy to mitigate this issue. Brief Description: UCR Researchers have developed insecticidal baits that use highly target-specific control technologies. This novel pheromone-assisted technique (PAT) has little impact on the environment and non-target organisms. By combining the attractant pheromone of ants and existing bait matrices, they increased discovery and consumption of the baits by foraging ants, thus maximizing efficacy of the baits applied. Moreover, they have produced significant results at extremely low concentrations of the pheromone-assisted bait in comparison to the ones that are currently being used.

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} The most widely known method for fertility control is hormonal contraception, which prevent sperm from entering the uterus. However, hormonal contraceptives present several risks associated with venous thrombosis, heart attacks, strokes, increased insulin resistance, gallbladder diseases, and liver tumors as well as a large number of side effects. There is a need for alternatives to the currently existing contraceptives. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is an endocrine system disorder that affects approximatlely 10% of women of childbearing age. Almost 5 million women suffer from this condition in the United States alone. While the exact cause of PCOS is unknown, the common symptoms include enlarged ovaries with many small cysts, inability to ovulate (hence infertility), excess hair growth, and obesity. Many women with PCOS overproduce the male sex hormone, androgens, which results in infertility. The current pharmaceutical intervention mainly includes treatment with birth control pills (steroids), however, there is no cure, because the cause of PCOS is still not known. UC Berkeley researchers have recently discovered a novel membrane progesterone receptor that controls the ovulation. Overexpressing mice produced 3-times more eggs than control mice. The receptor acts as an enzyme that binds progesterone and produces arachidonic acid. Arachidonic acid is converted into prostaglandins in the ovaries, and PGE2 has been shown before to trigger follicular growth and ovulation. If the enzyme levels increase, more PGE2 will be produced, and more follicles will mature. If the enzyme is suppressed, the whole ovulation process will be shut down. Since PCOS patients have much higher testosterone levels, the novel enzyme function in these patients is suppressed. So, an activator of this enzyme, which competes off testosterone, will be a better treatment or even a cure against PCOS. Compounds that modulate this enzyme’s function will promote and increase ovulation and will ultimately serve as an infertility treatment.

Researchers at the University of California, Davis, have discovered a composition of 5-phenoxyalkoxypsoralens that inhibits potassium channels to treat autoimmune diseases and disorders that involve abnormal homeostasis, body weight and peripheral insulin sensitivity.

Herpes simplex virus (HSV) infections affect billions of patients worldwide and can manifest its symptoms as painful blisters or ulcers at oral, ocular or genital locations. Symptomatic patients can currently only alleviate their pains with antiviral medication. This technology proposes a shift in focus toward novel protective epitopes as the foundation for new vaccines.